Timing system



FeB. 10, 1942. 1 rr 2,272,568

TIMING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 7. 1939 17 14 gilnsulajfon l 5 10 15 9 1mum-Tim l c a 10. 1265M 16*. I

lNVENT R i AM,

Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE eral Railway SignalCompany,

Rochester,

Application October 7, 1939, Serial No. 298,520

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to timing means, and has moreparticular reference to timing means for electric circuits and the like,as used in railway operation, for example.

In accordance with this invention, when the system is initiated, aself-starting reversible constant speed motor, operates a contactor tocomplete a timing circuit a predetermined period of times after theinitiation.

In timing circuits as used in connection with railway track switchoperation and the like, it is most desirable to employ an accurate timemeasuring means, and also a means which lends itself readily to varyingthe predetermined time,

measured within wide limits, such as cannot be practically realized withdevices of the thermal, and similar, types.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of the presentinvention will appear as the description progresses, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawing which shows, in a purely diagrammaticform, and in no manner whatsoever in a limiting sense, one form whichthe invention can assume. In the drawing the single figure of drawingshows, in a wholly schematic manner, one form which the presentinvention can assume.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a reversible constant speedmotor RCSM, which operates a contactor C, between spaced fixed contacts,to first pick up a stick relay SR, and to then complete a timing circuitto a lock relay or the like, (not shown), which circuit includes a frontpoint of the stick relay and a contact closed by the contactor C in itsnormal position.

The motor can be of any usual or desirable type so long as it isself-starting and reversible and of constant speed. It can be of the D.C. type, such as disclosed in application Ser. No. 198,928, in the nameof O. S. Field, filed March 30, 1938, now Patent 2,206,667 granted July2, 1940, or it can be of the alternating current type and if so, thearrangement of circuits entering the motor would differ somewhat fromthat described below.

The present timing system can be used in various connections. Oneparticular situation in which it can be used to advantage is to completea circuit through a lock relay to caus the lock relay to pick up, andthus to release the control of a track switch, only after the lapse of apreswitch HS in its closed position, contact finger 2 and back point ofrelay SR, the reversible motor, forward contact block 3, and contactfinger 4 and back point of relay SR.

Upon the motor operating in the forward direction, the contactor C ismoved to the left, by means of any desired mechanism, such for example,as that shown which includes a threaded socketed member 5, fixed oroperatively connected to the motor shaft, receiving a threaded stem 6fast to the contactor C.

Upon contactor C moving to the left a surficient distance, theconducting contact finger I carried thereby makes contact with thepivoted contact finger 8, to thereby complete a pick-up circuit forrelay SR which circuit includes hand switch HS in its closed position,wires 9 and It, contact fingers l and 8, and the winding of relay SR.

Upon. relay SR picking up, it is stuck up through an obvious stickcircuit, which includes hand switch HS in its closed position, andcontact finger 2 and front point of relay SR.

As contactor C moves from its shown, normal, position, contact block 13closes on contact I4, under th influence of biasing spring l5, and withthe stick relay SR picked up, a reverse energizing circuit for the motoris completed, which circuit includes hand switch HS in its closedposition, contact finger 2 and front point of relay SR, contact block l3and contact i l in closed position, the motor RCSM, and contact finger 4and front point of relay SR.

If, for any reason, relay SR should fail to pick up, when energized, thereverse circuit remains open and the forward energizing circuit remainsclosed. Thus, the motor continues to move the contactor C to the left,and carries finger 8, and wipe contact 3, connected thereto by aninsulating member H, with it, to ultimately break the wipe contactbetween 3 and contact point l2; thus to break the forward energizingcircuit and leave the parts in their then positions.

With the motor energized for reverse operation, contactor C is moved tothe right, to ultimately return to its shown position, to thereby opencontact block I3 and contact M, to break the reverse motor operatingcircuit, and to make contact between the traveling contact finger I6,and pivoted contact finger ll. This completes the timed circuit to thelock relay LR, or other device, which circuit includes hand switch HS inits closed position, wires 9 and i8, contact finger l9 and front pointof relay SR, wire 2%], contact fingers I6 and I1, wire 2| relay LR, andwire 22.

As described above, it can be seen that the timed circuit includes afront point of stick relay SR, and contacts closed only after the motorhas returned the contactor to its initial position. With such anarrangement, it can be readily appreciated that the time measured isconstant,

and that the system is always prepared, immediately after measuring onetime, to measure a second time.

Also, with this system, which involves reversible electro-mechanicalmeans, the time can be varied throughout a very wide range, it beingmerely necessary to vary the spacing of the pivoted contact fingers 8and IT, to thereby vary the measured time. The time measured can also,of course, be varied by varying the drive connection between the motorand the contactor C, and while a screw thread drive means has been shownit should be appreciated that any desired means, such as gears,clutches, or the like, can be employed. Also, the time measured can bevaried by bending the contact fingers l and 16, carried by the contactorC, so as to be either closer together, or further apart, than as nowshown.

It is entirely practical, with a system of the kind described above, tovary the measured time over a range of from a matter of seconds, tominutes, from 10 to 20 minutes, hours, or even days, if desired, a rangewhich can, of course, not be realized with the usual thermal, ore1ectro-mag-' netic, or other types, of time measuring systems.

The above rather specific description of one form which the presentinvention can assume, is given solely by way of example, and is notintended, in any manner, in a limiting sense. should be understood thatall such variations, modifications and adaptations, as may be made fromtime to time, are intended to be covered by the present application,except insofar as they are specifically excluded therefrom by theappended claims.

Having described my invention, I now claim:

1. In a timing system for use on railways and the like, in combination,a self-starting constant speed reversible motor, a stick relay, acontactor having an initial position, means operably connecting thecontactor to the motor for forward and reverse movement, a forwardenergizing motor circuit including a back point of the stick relay, apick-up circuit for the stick relay closed upon a predetermined forwardmovement of the contactor, a reverse energizing motor circuit includinga front point of the stick relay and a normally open contact closedduring the first part of the forward movement of the contactor, and a v,

timing circuit including in series a front point of the stick relay anda contact closed only when the contactor is in its initial position.

2. In a timing system for use on railways and the like, in combination,a self-starting constant speed reversible motor, a stick relay, acontactor having an initial position, mechanical means operablyconnecting the contactor to the motor for forward and backard movement,a forward energizing motor circuit including a back point of the stickrelay and a normally closed contact, a pick-up circuit for the stickrelay closed upon a predetermined forward movement of the contactor, areverse energizing motor circuit including a front point of the stickrelay and a normally open contact closed during the first part of theforward movement of the contactor, a timing cir cuit including in seriesa front point of the stick relay and a contact closed only when thecontactor is in its initial position, and means for opening saidnormally closed contact only upon forward movement of the contactoradditional to said predetermined forward movement.

3. In a timing system for use on railways and the like, in combination,a self-starting constant speed direct current reversible motor, a stickrelay, a contactor having an initial position, mechanical means operablyconnecting the contactor to the motor for forward and backward movement,a forward energizing motor circuit including a back point of the stickrelay and a normally closed contact, a pick-up circuit for the stickrelay closed upon a predetermined forward movement of the contactor, areverse energizing motor circuit including a front point of the stickrelay and a normally open contact closed during the first part of theforward movement of the contactor, a timing circuit including in seriesa front point of the stick relay and a contact closed only when thecontactor is in its initial position, and means for opening saidnormally closed contact only upon forward movement of the contactor of asubstantial amount in addition to said predetermined forward movement.

4. In timing means, in combination, a constant speed self-startingreversible motor, a contactor having an initial position and operablyconnected to the motor, a forward and a reverse energizing circuit forthe motor, a means operable upon a predetermined forward movement of thecontactor to open the forward circuit and close the reverse circuit, anormally closed contact in the forward circuit, means for opening saidclosed contact only upon movement of the contactor a substantialdistance beyond the point of said predetermined forward movement, and atiming circuit closed only upon the contactor moving said predeterminedforward movement and then returning to its initial position.

5. In a timing system for use on railways and the like, in combination,a self-starting constant speed reversible motor, a stick relay, acontactor having an initial position, mechanical means operablyconnecting the contactor to the motor for forward and backward movementof the contactor, the contactor carrying spaced, deformable contactfingers, a forward energizing motor circuit including a back point ofthe stick relay, a pick-up circuit for the stick relay closed by one ofsaid contact fingers upon a predetermined forward movement of thecontactor, a reverse energizing motor circuit including a front point ofthe stick relay and a normally open contact closed i on the othercontact finger during the first part of the stick relay and a contactclosed only when the contactor is in its initial position.

6. In a timing system for use on railways and the like, in combination,a self-starting constant speed direct current motor, a stick relay, acontactor having an initial position, mechanical means operablyconnecting the contactor to the motor for forward movement, a forwardenergizing motor circuit including a back point of the stick relay and anormally closed contact, a pickup circuit for the stick relay closedupon a predetermined forward movement of the contactor, circuit meanseffective only when the stick relay is picked up to cause the return ofthe contactor to its initial position, and a timing circuit including inseries a front point of the stick relay and a contact closed only whenthe contactor is in its initial position, and means for opening saidnormally closed contact only upon forward movement of a substantialamount of the contactor in addition to said predetermined movement.

ROBERT J. LITTLE.

